Tapales guns for WBO bantam crown vs Thai

OM NOI, Thailand – Filipino mandatory challenger Marlon Tapales let out a yell the moment he got cleared to fight defending champion Pungluang Sor Singyu during the official weighin Tuesday afternoon at the Vichaivej International Hospital.

Moments before he took to the scales, Tapales had been worried sick that he would fail to make 118 lbs after taking several trips in the hours and minutes leading to boxing’s most important pre-fight ritual.

So anxious and tense the moment was that Tapales even had to remove his underwear to make sure that he makes the weight for today’s encounter at the Ayutthaya City Park.

But after being declared fit and ready for tipping in at 117.8 lbs, Tapales was finally relieved and it showed when he took his first heavy meal in the last few days.

Surrounded by members of his team, Tapales told a scribe there’s just one more thing to take care of, that is, to wrest the title from the favored Sor Singyu.

“Suntukan na!” said Tapales as he consumed the food that was put in front of him by trainer Fernando Ocon as manager Wakee Salud and training assistant Brix Flores attended the rules meeting just a few steps away.

Sor Singyu also had problems making weight as he likewise took a few trips to the scales before the actual weighin.

Sor Singyu, who has beaten 20 Filipinos, many of whom sacrificial lambs, also came in at 117.8 lbs.

But Tapales is upbeat that he can break the jinx by scoring a knockout and join an elite cast of Filipino fighters.